Tractor mower



May 4, 1943. P. H. wEsTr-:RLUND 2,318,274

TRACTOR MOWER Filel Aug. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ORNEYS May 4, 1943. P. H. WESTERLUND 2,318,274

TRACTOR MOWER Filed Aug. 17, 1942 2 Sheetsfsheet 2 INVENTOR PAUL H. WESTERLUN Patented May 4, 1943 Felon TRACTOR MOWER Paul H.L Wester'luna, Moline, 111., assigiiito Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application Aiigust 17, 1942, serial No. 455,143

(Ci. sii-:25)

, 11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to'tractor mowers and more particularly tov tractor mowers of the type in which the mowerl cutter bar extends laterally from the side of the tractor frame ahead of one of the wheels of the tractor. It is desirable to mount a mower on a tractor by means which provides for releasing the cutter bar when the latter encounters an obstruction in the eld during operation, to permit the bar to swing rearwardly and thus avoid damage to the cutter bar and its supporting and driving connections. Furthermore, it is desirableto arrange the releasable support so that the entire cutter bar moves rearwardly in order to protect the mechanism against an obstruction that encounters the linner end of the shoe as well as one that encounters the vouter end of the shoe. It is well-known to those skilled in the art that this can be accomplished by supporting the cutter bar on an arm which is pivotally supported on the tractor at a point spaced inwardly of the inner end of the cutter bar, and, it is highly desirable to make thisv spacing as great as possible in order to providefor an ample rearward movement of the shoe` at the inner end of the cutter bar.

When the mower is mounted at therear of the tractor,'there is little difficulty in' obtaining this desirable result, for the cutter bar support can be pivoted to the tractor frame at the opposite side of the latter, and the rcutter bar can swing rearwardly througha ninety-degree angle to a trailing position behind the tractor.A InV this case, however, the visibility of the cutter bar from the tractor operators seat is not as good as it is when the cutter bar is mounted on the tractor near the forward end of the frame, for the operator must turn his head to watchthe action of the cutter bar during operation.- On the other hand, when the cutter bar is mounted on the tractor ahead of the operators seat, the supporting arm of the mower must extend across the path of and in front of one of the tractor wheels, thus limiting the extent of rearward swinging movement when the cutter bar encounters i an obstruction. In Patent No. 2,292,362, granted to Coultas, August 11, 1942, a complete ninety-decree arc of movement of the cutter bar to a trailing position behind the tractor 'is accomplished by providing for running the rear wheel of the tractor over the mower shoe during the rearward swinging movement.- The principall object of the present invention relates to the provision oi"A a means vfor pivotally mounting the mower on theA tractor frame ahead of one of the rear wheels of the tractor in such a way that the mower can swing rearwardly this means, when the cutter bar is in its rearwardly trailing position, the arm extends laterally in front of the Wheel and then rearwardly along the outer side of the latter, permitting the cutter bar to assume a trailing position substantially 'at right angles to the normal operating position. Y

A further object of the present invention relates to the provision lof driving connections for the cutting apparatus', which are swngable with the cutter bar; and when thelatter reaches its trailing position, the driving connections assume a positionin which the movement of the cutting apparatus is reduced appreciably from itsnormal extent of movement, thus minimizing th'e'chances of damage to the cutting apparatus. In the accomplishmentof this object, thepower is tra-nsmitted to drivev the reciprocatillgv Sickle through a crank and pitman', the latter being arranged S0 that when the cutter bar swings rearwardly, the

pitman is swung to a position substantially'parallel with the axis of rotationof the crank. I

Still another object of the present' invention relates Vto the-provision for lifting the belt tightening idler from the power transmittingbelt by movement of the cutter bar rearwardly from its normal operating position.

'I'hese arid other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the followingA description in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figurev l is a plan View of a tractor mower,

showing a portion ofv the tractor frame broken away' to Ymore clearly disclose the details of the mower supporting structure; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the tractor mower.

lfteferring now to the'drawingsreierence numeral 5 indicates in Yitsert'ir'ety a tractor 0f l rior'e :cr less conventional form, comprising a frame including a pair' of longiti'idinally extending laterally spaced Vbeams E', 1;' rigid-ly connected at their rear ends to a transverse rear axle housing 8, and mounted at their forward ends on a transverse front axle 9. The front axle 9 is carried on a pair of laterally spaced dirigible supporting Wheels ID, journaled a-t opposite ends of the axle 9, respectively. The rear axle housing 8 is supported at opposite ends, respectively, on a pair of rear traction wheels I I, I2. In Figure 2, the near traction wheel I2 is removed in order to more clearly show the structure. A suitable power plant is mounted within an engine compartment I5 at the forward end of the frame members 6, 1. The engine drives the rear wheels II, I2

ed on the rear axle housing 8, and is connected through suitable gear mechanism (not shown) to drive the traction wheels I I, l2, in a manner wellknown to those skilled in the art. A power takeoff I8 is mounted at one side of the tractor and is driven from the tractor power plant, the outer end of the power take-olf having a belt pulley I9 mounted thereon. I

VvThe mower is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral andincludes a cutter bar 2| disposed transversely of the direction of travel intermediate the front and rear wheels of the tractor, and'outside of the plane of rotation of the rear tractor wheel I2. The inner end of the cutter bar is attached to a mower shoe 22 of conventional form, which is pivotally mounted on a conventional shoe arch 23.

The shoe arch 23 is mounted cn the outer end of a mower supporting'arm 24 which is angular in shape, extending inwardly from the arch 23 and rearwardly to a pivot connection 25, which is disposed appreciably behind the cutter bar and inwardly of the inner end thereof. The vertical pivot 25 provides for generally horizontal swinging movement of the angular arm 24, with respect to a mower supporting frame 26 comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending members 21, 28, which are hinged at their inner ends by means of fore and aft aligned horizontal pivots 29, 30to a pair of brackets 3 I, which are securely bolted to the tractor frame member 6 on the opposite side of the tractor from the mower cutter bar 2|. The two frame members 21, 28 extend beneath the other tractor frame member 1 and diverge outwardly, the outer end of the forward member 21 beingcurved rearwardly, asat 32, and rigidly connected, as by welding, to the outer end of the rear member 28.

The angular mower arm 24 isl attached by the vertical pivot 25 to the rear arm V28 and extends f forwardly therefrom, bearing kupon the curved portion 32 ofthe frame 26. A latch 35 is mounted on the forward member 211 of the frame 26 on a bolt 36 and engages a lug 31 fixed to the forwardly extending portion of the arm 24, and is urged into engagement therewith by a coil spring 38 encircling the bolt 36. The pressure of the spring 38 is sufficient to hold the cutter bar supporting arm in forwardly extending position during normal operation, to maintain the cutter bal' 2| in a normal laterally extending operating position, but when the cutter bar encounters an `obstruction in the eld during normal operation, the forward momentum of the tractor overcomes the pressure of the spring 38 and releases the arm 24 for rearward swinging movement about. the pivot 25. An upwardly turned stop 39 limits the, rearward swinging movement of the arm 24 to a position as indicated'in dotted lines in Figure 1, in which the cutter'bar 2I trails rearwardly along through a rearwardly extending transmission c shaft I6 which extends into a gear case I1 mount-r the outer side of the traction wheel I2. In this position, it will be noted that the normally forwardly extending portion of the angular mower arm 24 extends directly in front of the tractor wheel I2 in the path of movement thereof, but is prevented from interfering with the latter by the stop 39. The length of the forwardly extending portion of the arm 24 is sufcient so the distance from the cutter bar rearwardly to the pivot 25 in normal position is at least equal to the distance from the pivot 25 laterally to the outer plane of the traction wheel I2. A comparison of the normal position of the cutter bar shown in solid linesl and the trailing position shown in dotted lines will bring out that the inner end of the cutter bar and the mower shoe has quite an appreciable rearward movement, so that even though the shoe or the inner end of the cutter bar encountersan obstruction, there is suicient movement to provide time enough for the operator to stop the tractor before damage is done.

The mower can be swung vertically in a transverse plane by swinging the supporting frame 26 21, 28 of the frameV 26.

vertically about the pivots 29, 39. This is accomplished by means of a lever 49 swingably mounted on a bracket 4I on the tractor frame member 1 and having an arm 42' connected through a chain member 43 to an eyebolt 44, fixed to the forward member 21 of the frame 26.

Cutting apparatus lin the form of a reciprocating sickle 59 is disposed on the cutter bar 2I in cooperative relative thereto. The Ysickle is driven through a knife head 5I, connected through a ball and socket joint 52 to a connectl ing rod 53, which is pivoted to one `arm of a bell crank 54. The bell crank is pivoted'to the angular supporting arm 24 on a vertical pivot 55. The other arm of the bell crank 54 is connected through a universal joint 56 to a lpitman 51. The opposite-end of the pitman 51 is connected through a ball and socket joint 58 to a crank 59 on a flywheel 60. The flywheel 68 is fixed to the outer end of a shaft 6I, which is journaled adjacent the flywheel 60 in a bearing 62, the latter being xedly mounted on a bracing member 63 connected between the two transverse members The opposite end of the shaft 6I is journaled in a bearing 64, which is supported on a pair of frame members 65, which converge downwardly between the two transverse frame members 21, 28. A belt pulley 66 is fixed to the end of the shaft 6I, in fore and aft alignment with the power take-off belt pulley I9, and is operatively connected therewith by a flexible belt 61. The belt 61 is normally loose around the two pulleys I9, 66, but is maintained tightly in driving relation by means of an idler 68, journaled on a crank 69, which is swingably mounted in the forward bracket 3|, from which the crank arm 69 extends upwardly and inclines forwardly. A tension spring 10 is connected to the crank arm 69 and extends forwardly therefrom and is anchored to the tractor frame member 6, so that it applies a pressure against the idler 68 forcing it downwardly and forwardly upon the belt 61 to tighten the latter.

Thus, it is evident that during operation of the tractor engine, power is transmittedV through the belt 61 between the power shaft pulley I9 and the drive shaft pulley 66, as long as the idler 6 8 is heldagainst the belt.v Rotation of the drive shaft 6I drives through the crank 59 and pitman 51 toreciprocate the bell crank 54 about the vertical pivot on the arm 24. The bell crank 54 transmits reciprocatory movement through the connecting rod 53 to the sickle 5i). vInasmuch as the drive shaft El is journaled on the frame 2B, which is hinged to the tractor for vertical swinging movement, the shaft 6I obviously swings vertically with the frame about the axis of the hinge pivots 29, 30. This rocks the pulley 66, relative to the power shaft .pulley I9, but the exible belt 61 accommodates this movement by a slight twisting action, which is not excessive, due to the fact that the pulley 66 is disposed near the axis of the hinge pivot 29, 39.

When the cutter bar encounters an obstruction, the latch 35 is overcome, allowing the arm 24 to swing rearwardly about the pivot 25. When this happens, the bell crank 54 and connecting rod 53 swing rearwardly with the arm 24, thereby swinging the pitman 51 outwardly about the ball and socket joint 58 into the position indicated in dotted lines in which the pitman 51 is substantially parallel to the drive shaft El but inclined slightly downwardly. In this position of the pitman, however, the rotation of the crank 59 transmits very little reciprocative movement to the bell crank 5d, even though the shaft 6l continues to rotate at normal speed. This is a desirable condition, especially in case the cutter bar has engaged a rock or small tree, which might break the sickle blades. It will be evident to those skilled in the art, that in a rearwardly trailing position of the cutter bar, the closer the universal joint 55 approaches the axis of the drive shaft El, the smaller will be the movement of the sickle. Returning the cutter bar to its normal operating position will automatically restore the normal reciprocating movement to the cutting apparatus.

ri'he transmission of power to the sickle can be interrupted by swinging the idler arm 69 rearwardly to decrease the tension on the belt 61. This can be accomplished manually'if desired, or it can be accomplished automatically, responsive to rearward movement of the cutter bar out of normal operating position by means of a tension member 15 hooked through a lug 16 on the side of the arm 24 ahead of the pivot 25. `The opposite end of the tension member 15 is connected to a bell crank 1l, which is pivoted to a bracket 1B, iixed to the tractor frame member 6. The other end of the bell crank 11 is connected through a link 'i9 to the idler crank 59. Thus, when the mower arm 24 swings rearwardly about the pivot 25, the tension member 'l5 is pulled laterally to the position shown in dotted lines, thereby acting through the bell crank 11 to swing the idler arm 6E rearwardly to disengage the idler B8 from the belt 6i. This automatic control of the idler has the effect of positively interrupting transmission of power to the sickle, although in many cases it is not necessary, since the arrangement of the pitman and crank 59 also has the effect of reducing the amount of movement of the sickle when the cutter bar is in rearward trailing position, and therefore the automatic idler control is optional.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle having a supporting wheel, a mower disposed across the path of and ahead of said supporting wheel and including a laterally extending cutter bar, means for supporting said mower from said vehicle including a vertical pivot disposed inwardly of said supporting wheel and spaced to the rear of said cutter bar a distance substantially equal to the distance from said pivot laterally to the outer side of said wheel, whereby the cutter bar may be swung rearward-ly from a laterallyextending operating position to an `inopera'tive trailing p.- sition approximately parallel to said supportin wheel.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a supporting wheel, a primary frame pivoted to the vehicle for vertical swinging movement, a mower disposed across the path of and ahead of said supporting wheel and including a laterally extending cutter bar, a vertical pivot connecting said mower to said primary frame at a point spaced inwardly of said ysupporting wheel'and spaced to the rear of said cutter bar a distance substantially equal to the distance from said pivot laterally to the outer side of said wheel, whereby the cutter bar may be swung from a laterally extending operating position to an inoperative position alongside said supporting wheel.

3. A mower comprising a vehicle having a supporting wheel, a mower frame comprising a forwardly extending part and a second part extending laterally from the forward end of the first part, the second part extending across the path of and ahead of said supporting wheel, a cutting mechanism extending laterally from the outer end of said second part, means for supporting said mower frame from said vehicle including a vertical pivot at the rear end of the rst part thereof about which pivot said ycutting mechanism Vmay bg swung from a laterally extending operating position to an inoperative position alongside said supporting wheel with the first part of said mower frame extending across the path of said supporting wheel.

4. A mower comprising a tractor having front Idirigible wheels and a pair of laterally spaced rear traction wheels, acutter bar structure associated with said tractor and comprising a cutter bar normally disposed between said front and Arear wheels and including cutting mechanism lying entirely outside the plane 0f one of said wheels, an angular supporting member connected with said shoe and normally extending inwardly of said wheel and rearwardly, means for pivotally sup-porting said angular support on said tractor for horizontal swinging movement, said pivot means being spaced rearwardly of said cutting lmechanism a distance at least equal to the distance from said pivot to the outside surface of said wheel, where-by said cutter bar structure can swing rearwardly to a trailing position along the outer side of .said wheel, and means for releasably retaining said cutter bar in its normal operating position.

5. A mower comprising a tractor having front dirigible wheels and a pair of laterally spaced rear traction wheels, a cutter bar structure associated with said tractor and comprising a cutter bar normally disposed between said front and rear wheels and including cutting mechanism lying entirely outside the plane of one of said wheels, an angular 'supporting member connected with said shoe and normally extending inwardly of said wheel and rearwardly, a supporting arm swing'abl'y connected to the tractor by means providing for kangular vertical movement relative thereto, means for pivotal'ly supporting 'said angular support on said arm -for horizontal movement relative thereto, said pivot means being spaced rearwardly of said cutting mechanism a distance at least equal to the distance from said pivot to the outside surface of said wheel, whereby said cutter bar structure can swing rearwardly to a trailing position along the outer side of said 6. A mower comprising a tractor having front dirigible wheels and a pair of laterally spaced .rear traction wheels, a cutter bar structurev associated with said tractor and comprising a cutter Abar normally disposed between said front and rear wheels and including cutting mechanism lying entirely outside the plane of one of said Wheels, an angular supporting member connected with said shoe and normally extending inwardly of said wheel and rearwardly, a support- .ing frame swingably connected to the tractor by means providing for angular vertical movement relative thereto, means for pivotally supporting said angular support on said frame for horizontal movement relative thereto, a portion of said frame underlying said angular support outwardly of said pivot and serving to slidably support the angular support as the latter swings about said pivot, said pivot means being spaced rearwardly of said cutting mechanism a distance at least equal to the distance from said pivot to the outside surface of said wheel, whereby said cutter bar, structure can swing rearwardly to a trailing position along the outer side of said wheel, and means for releasably retaining said cutter bar in its normal operating position, said last named means comprising latch means between said underlying frame portion and said angular support, Aspaced forwardly of said pivot 7. A mower comprising a primary frame, a secondary frame pivotally connected to said primary frame for relative swinging movement, reciprocative cutting mechanism carried by said secondary frame, a drive shaft on said primary frame disposed at right angles to the axis of pivotal movement of said secondary frame and having a crank in closey proximity to said axis, and a pitman connected to said cutting apparatus and having a iiexible connection with said crank and disposed normally substantially perpendicular t said drive shaft but swingable with said secondary frame to a position parallel to said shaft, thereby appreciably reducing the movement of said cutting apparatus.

8. A mower comprising a wheel supported frame, a cutter bar associated therewith, a cutter bar supporting arm pivotally mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, to swing said cutter bar from a laterally extending position at one side of said frame to a rearwardly trailing position, said arm extending normally forwardly from the pivot connection, a transversely disposed drive shaft mounted on said frame, a crank on said shaft in close proximity to said pivot, a pitman flexibly connected to said crank and extending forwardly therefrom, and means at the forward end of said pitman for driving reciprocative cutting apparatus on said cutter bar, said pitman being carried on said supporting arm and swingable with the latter approximately ninety degrees into a generally transverse position extending outwardly from said crank, whereby the rotation of said crank transmits appreciably less reciprocating movement to said cutting apparatus when said cutter bar is in said rearwardly trailing position.

`v`vvheel, and means for releasably retaining said cutter bar in its normal operating position.

9. A mower comprising aV wheel supported frame, a cutter bar associated therewith, a cutter lbar supporting arm pivotally mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, to swing said cutter bar from a laterally extending position at one side of said frame to a rearwardly trailing position, said arm extending normally forwardly from the pivot connection, a transversely disposed drive shaft mounted on said frame, a crank on said shaft in close proximity in said pivot, a pitman fiexibly connected to said crank and extending forwardly therefrom, a bell crank mounted on said arm forward of said crank and connected to said pitman, a reciprocating sickle mounted on said cutter bar and connected to said bell crank to be driven thereby from said pitman and crank, said pitman, bell crank, and sickle being swingable rearwardly with said arm and cutter bar into a position in which the pitman extends laterally outwardly from said crank, in which position the rotating crank transmits very little movement through said pitman to said sickle.

10. AV mower comprising a wheel supported frame, a mower arm swingably supported on said frame by means providing for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, cutting mechanism carried on said arm, a drive shaft operatively connected with said cutting mechanism for driving the latter, a power shaft journaled on said frame, a flexible power transmitting belt connecting said shafts, an idler pulley journaled on a crank, the latter being swingablycarried on said frame adjacent said belt, means for normally biasing said idler pulley against said belt vto tighten the latter, and means connecting said mower arm and said crank and arranged to swing 'the latter and said idler pulley away from said belt against the action of said biasing means when said mower arm is swung relative to said frame, thereby interrupting the drive to said dn've shaft.

11. A mower comprising a mobile frame, a mower supporting frame hinged to said mobile frame providing for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, a cutter bar supporting arm pivotally mounted on said supporting frame for hor- 'said mobile frame, a pulley on said power shaft,

a belt trained over said pulleys, an idler contacting said belt, a crank, on which said idler is `iournaled, swingably mounted on one of said frames and biased to urge said idler against said belt to tighten the latter, a tension member connecting said arm to said crank for pulling said idler away from said belt when the arm swings out of said normal operating position, and releasable latch means for normally holding said arm in said operating position.

PAUL I-I. WES'IERLUND. 

